Brockton boosters undeterred by Christmas shooting

Tuesday

Dec 27, 2011 at 12:01 AMDec 27, 2011 at 8:32 AM

There was no peace on earth for the man who was shot in the buttocks Sunday afternoon on Legion Parkway after an argument escalated into a brazen daylight shooting in the city’s downtown. But the shooting is not signaling alarm bells for those who work, serve and represent downtown.

Erik Potter

There was no peace on earth for the man who was shot in the buttocks Sunday afternoon on Legion Parkway after an argument escalated into a brazen daylight shooting in the city’s downtown.

But the shooting is not signaling alarm bells for those who work, serve and represent downtown.

“Certainly on Christmas Day you’d expect people to knock this off – peace on earth, good will toward men. But that didn’t happen,” said the Rev. Steve Warner, lead pastor at Brockton Assembly of God Church on Warren Avenue.

Warner, whose church is in the heart of downtown, said he believes the Christmas shooting, while terrible, is an aberration.

“Out of 95,000 people, there are probably 100 hard core drug guys in the city,” he said. “Sadly, we’re talking about a minority of people causing this kind of scenario. ... But at the end of the day it gives Brockton a black eye and a bad name.”

The shooting comes as Brockton is attempting to build up its downtown – spending $60,000 on increased police patrols, pushing two redevelopment projects to bring in more residents and businesses, stepping up drug sweeps of low-level dealers, and re-branding itself as a Christmas destination with an annual holiday parade and Santa Hat challenge.

John Merian, who owns Tuxedos By Merian on Main Street and serves in the Downtown Business Association, said he is disappointed at the daylight Christmas shooting, but not despondent.

“These things are going to happen until we get to that end result,” he said, meaning a downtown with a residential center of working people with money to spend and businesses that cater to them. “(Crime) is going to happen, but it’s not going to take away from the good along the way. Too many people see the good things going on.”

Police Monday did not yet have any suspects in Sunday’s shooting and were still unable to release the identify of the victim, who was taken to Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital after the shooting.

Mayor Linda Balzotti did not return a call Monday seeking comment.

Ward 5 City Councilor Dennis Denapoli, who represents the east side of downtown, said that the short-term solution is to pay more attention to downtown.

“That area is a very high-crime area. ... We have to keep our eyes and ears on that area more than we have in the past,” he said. “You put more resources down there, more police down there. That’s the only way you’re going to get rid of it.”

Erik Potter may be reached at epotter@enterprisenews.com.

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